Clenched In Latin America

Top U.S. Commander Warns of Iranian, Hizbullah Influence in Latin America:

Iran's growing influence in Latin America and its ties with Hizbullah and Hamas are a "potential risk" to the region, the newly-appointed head of the U.S. Southern Command, General Douglas Fraser has warned. Fraser, who on Thursday took charge of U.S. military operations in 31 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean, expressed "real concern" about the Islamic Republic's links with what he called "extremist organizations" in the region.

"The real concern is not a nation-to-nation interaction, it is the connection that Iran has with extremist organizations like Hamas and Hizbullah and the potential risk that that could bring to this region," Fraser told journalists in Miami ahead of taking up the post. Commenting on Iran's ties to alleged extremist groups in the region, Fraser said: "it is a concern, and it is an issue we will continue to monitor for any increasing activity."